A+E Interactive » Al Greenhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei
Bay Area Arts and Entertainment BlogFri, 13 Feb 2015 21:27:43 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1Outside Lands thrills with Al Green, Social D, othershttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2010/08/16/outside-lands-thrills-with-al-green-social-d-others/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2010/08/16/outside-lands-thrills-with-al-green-social-d-others/#commentsMon, 16 Aug 2010 07:17:29 +0000Jim Harringtonhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2010/08/16/outside-lands-thrills-with-al-green-social-d-others/By Jim Harrington The second half of the two-day Outside Lands festival at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park was a slam-dunk success. And not just because there were less Deadheads playing Hacky Sack. The eclectic lineup featured on Sunday managed… Continue Reading →]]>By Jim Harrington
The second half of the two-day Outside Lands festival at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park was a slam-dunk success.
And not just because there were less Deadheads playing Hacky Sack.
The eclectic lineup featured on Sunday managed to surpass all reasonable expectations and there was excellent music to be found all day long, and well into the night.
It just goes to show that a festival that books the two coolest people on the planet – Al Green and Social Distortion’s Mike Ness – is bound to be a success. In all, Sunday’s bill topped what was featured on Saturday, a day that still had its share of enticing acts – including gypsy punk-rockers Gogol Bordello, The Band alum Levon Helm, modern rockers the Strokes and Grateful Dead spinoff Furthur, featuring original Deadheads Bob Weir and Phil Lesh.
The music began on both days at noon. One of the first acts on Sunday that really impressed was the Temper Trap, the infectious alt-pop act from Australia that has won over legions of fans with its debut album, 2009’s “Conditions.”
Not long after the Trap closed its set, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros were kicking into gear on the other side of the park. Sharpe and his crew provided a sunny dose of neo-psychedelic pop that was perfectly complementary for the setting and – most thankfully – the weather, which was much warmer than what was found on Saturday.
Sharpe was terrific, and well worth catching in concert if he returns through town. Yet, if you were to take a poll of what was the No. 1 fan-favorite set of the 2010 Outside Lands festival, my guess is that the Reverend Al Green would come out on top – by a large margin. The 64-year-old gospel/soul/R&B star was in legendary vocal form as he led his band, featuring a dynamite horn section, through such immortal tracks as “Tired of Being Alone,” “Let’s Stay Together” and “Love and Happiness,” which, on Sunday, sounded pretty much like the greatest tune of all time.
Ness was still buzzing about Green’s performance when he took the stage with his titanic punk troupe Social D nearly two hours later. Indeed, Green had set the bar so high that nobody was going to top it. But Ness sure gave it the old college try – and he came pretty darn close as Social D motored through “Story of My Life,” “Prison Bound,” “Ball of Chain,” “Ring of Fire” and other winners.
In between Green and Social D, fans got the chance to enjoy the French alt-pop act Phoenix and dub wonders Slightly Stoopid. The Phoenix booking was a particularly nice coup for promoters Another Planet Presents – kind of like catching lightning in a bottle – since the act might well be the biggest buzz band on the planet right now. The Kings of Leon closed Sunday’s show with a fan-friendly set, highlighted by a cover of the Pixies’ “Where is My Mind?”
In all, it was a top-to-bottom solid offering of music on Sunday, one that certainly sent the 2010 Outside Lands out on a highlight and gave fans reason to look forward to next year’s fandango.]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2010/08/16/outside-lands-thrills-with-al-green-social-d-others/feed/9Outside Lands lineup leaked by Spinhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2010/05/27/outside-lands-lineup-leaked-by-spin/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2010/05/27/outside-lands-lineup-leaked-by-spin/#commentsThu, 27 May 2010 20:54:30 +0000Jim Harringtonhttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2010/05/27/outside-lands-lineup-leaked-by-spin/By Jim Harrington The lineup for this year’s Outside Lands festival won’t be officially announced until Tuesday, yet Spin magazine has already leaked some of the acts that are reportedly set to perform at the third annual event in San… Continue Reading →]]>By Jim Harrington
The lineup for this year’s Outside Lands festival won’t be officially announced until Tuesday, yet Spin magazine has already leaked some of the acts that are reportedly set to perform at the third annual event in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.
Kings of Leon, My Morning Jacket, Al Green, Gossip and Phoenix were among the performers listed to play the festival in the magazine’s summer music guide, found inside the current edition of Spin. This year’s festival – a two-day deal, instead of the three-day affairs in 2008 and 2009 – will take place Aug. 14 and 15.
Only one act – the pairing of hip-hop titan Nas and reggae superstar Damian “Junior Gong” Marley – has been officially confirmed for Outside Lands. That’s the same duo that just performed a sold-out concert at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Tuesday night.
Berkeley-based Another Planet Entertainment still plans to announce the full lineup, which will number dozens of acts, on Tuesday. Two-day passes for the event, starting at $125, will go on sale 10 a.m. Wednesday, with single-day tickets, priced at $75, following at 10 a.m. June 6. Tickets will be available by calling 800-745-3000 or visiting www.apeconcerts.com and www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, check www.sfoutsidelands.com.]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2010/05/27/outside-lands-lineup-leaked-by-spin/feed/10Nick Cave, Al Green, Lewis Black among weekend’s best betshttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/09/19/nick-cave-al-green-lewis-black-among-weekends-best-bets/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/09/19/nick-cave-al-green-lewis-black-among-weekends-best-bets/#commentsFri, 19 Sep 2008 18:33:25 +0000Jim Harringtonhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/concerts/?p=1006

The 4th annual Sonoma Jazz + festival offered more than its share of musical thrills over Memorial Day Weekend. The majority of the excitement occurred on the festivalâ€™s mainstage, which was erected in a huge tent in downtown Sonomaâ€™s Field… Continue Reading →

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The 4th annual Sonoma Jazz + festival offered more than its share of musical thrills over Memorial Day Weekend.
The majority of the excitement occurred on the festivalâ€™s mainstage, which was erected in a huge tent in downtown Sonomaâ€™s Field of Dreams, as such big-name acts as Diana Krall and Bonnie Raitt entertained fans over the course of four evenings, Thursday through Sunday.
There was also fun to be had during the daytime, as the popular Wine & Song series paired Bay Area musical talent with wines from local vineyards on Saturday and Sunday. This series, held at such picturesque and intimate downtown venues as the Ledson Hotel and the Red Grape, offered up such clever thematic music/wine combos as â€œRhythm and Redâ€ and â€œCabaret and Cabernet.â€
Perhaps the best part about this festival (which receives sponsorship from this newspaper) is that it helps raise funds for music programs in Sonoma Valley schools. Indeed, some locals say that without Sonoma Jazz + there would be no music programs in local schools.
I caught three of the festivalâ€™s four nights, having skipped the Kool and the Gang opener on Thursday. Hereâ€™s a look back:
SUBHED: Herbie and the Rev
What looked to be the festivalâ€™s most potent doubleheader _ Fridayâ€™s pairing of Herbie Hancock and the Reverend Al Green _ didnâ€™t quite live up to those lofty expectations. Each set offered amazing music, but they just didnâ€™t gel well as a package.
Green took the stage first, wearing a snazzy suit, dark glasses and a smile for the ages, and revved up the crowd with his one-of-a-kind mix of R&B, soul, gospel and pop. The 62-year-old vocalist, whose new CD, â€œLay It Down,â€ hits stores today, sounded terrific as he led his big band through such Top 40 singles as â€œLetâ€™s Get Married,â€ â€œTired of Being Aloneâ€ and, of course,â€ â€œLetâ€™s Stick Together.â€
He was an energetic and assured front man, borrowing more than a few tricks from James Brownâ€™s bag, and he had fans eating out of the palm of his hand. The highlights of the set were a transcendent â€œAmazing Grace,â€ which began as almost whispered duet between Green and the crowd and gradually built to a triumphant height, and a monster work-out of â€œLove and Happiness.â€
Following an intermission, during which fans deeply enjoyed the sounds of the Bay Areaâ€™s own J.C. Smith Blues Band on the side stage, pianist Hancock and his band took their turn under the bright lights and proceeded to lay down some incredibly heady jazz.
It proved to be a difficult transition for the fans, some of whom were still soaked with sweat from dancing to Greenâ€™s high-energy offering. Lengthy electric bass solos, courtesy of the great Marcus Miller, and avant-garde arrangements, such as setting the usual four-beat â€œWatermelon Manâ€ to a new 17-beat (!) form, probably werenâ€™t the best match for Greenâ€™s crowd-friendly set.
In retrospect, the lineup should have probably been flipped _ with Hancock setting the table for Green _ but the 68-year-old jazz great might not have gone for that, since heâ€™s currently living large on the unexpected Grammy success of his latest CD, the Joni Mitchell tribute â€œRiver: The Joni Letters.â€
Of course, the evening would have been much different if one widely spread rumor had actually turned out to be true _ that Mitchell would show up and perform with Hancock. Alas, the ever-elusive songwriter didnâ€™t make it to Sonoma.
SUBHED: Krall, Raitt delight fans
Krall was fighting bronchitis during her headlining set on Saturday. She apologized repeatedly for her voice, which was a bit huskier than usual, but there was no real need for the condolences. She still sounded quite lovely as she softly cradled such beauties as â€œThe Look of Love,â€ â€œDeed I Doâ€ and â€œDevil May Care.â€
She did, however, seem to give somewhat more space to her band members than usual _ which is hardly a bad thing. This quartet, featuring guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, is one of the best working bands in all of jazz, a fact that is often overlooked due to the magnitude of Krallâ€™s star. In all, it was a pretty solid outing for the 43-year-old singer-pianist _ not quite as good as her set at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival, but better than last yearâ€™s offering at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga.
Krallâ€™s set was nicely complemented by the one from opener Taylor Eigsti. The 23-year-old Menlo Park native has gone from being a child prodigy, one that opened up for David Benoit at age 8, to legitimate mainstage attraction right before our eyes. The Grammy-nominated pianist and his band, featuring Sonoma Countyâ€™s own Julian Lage on guitar, definitely made a mark on this crowd with a set that nicely straddled the line between classic and modern jazz.
Bonnie Raitt brought the festival to a close on Sunday night. The 58-year-old Southern California native turned in an all-around winning set, touching upon such mega-hits as â€œThing Called Loveâ€ as well as performing lesser-known numbers.
Her voice was strong _ and her slide-guitar work was even better _ as she led her band and a couple of guest stars (including guitar-stud Roy Rogers) through a bluesy batch of tunes. The highlight of her set, as per usual, was her touching take on John Prineâ€™s classic â€œAngel From Montgomery.â€]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/05/26/al-green-diana-krall-highlight-4th-sonoma-jazz/feed/4diana krallHerbie Hancock, Al Green at Sonoma Jazz +http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/05/24/herbie-hancock-al-green-at-sonoma-jazz/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/05/24/herbie-hancock-al-green-at-sonoma-jazz/#commentsSat, 24 May 2008 20:39:20 +0000Jim Harringtonhttp://www.ibabuzz.com/concerts/2008/05/24/herbie-hancock-al-green-at-sonoma-jazz/

What looked to be the Sonoma Jazz + festivalâ€™s most potent doubleheader _ Fridayâ€™s (May 23) pairing of Herbie Hancock and the Reverend Al Green _ didnâ€™t quite live up to those lofty expectations. Each set offered amazing music, but… Continue Reading →

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What looked to be the Sonoma Jazz + festivalâ€™s most potent doubleheader _ Fridayâ€™s (May 23) pairing of Herbie Hancock and the Reverend Al Green _ didnâ€™t quite live up to those lofty expectations. Each set offered amazing music, but they just didnâ€™t gel well as a package.
Green took the stage first, wearing a snazzy suit, dark glasses and a smile for the ages, and revved up the crowd with his one-of-a-kind mix of R&B, soul, gospel and pop. The 62-year-old vocalist, whose new CD, â€œLay It Down,â€ hits stores Tuesday (May 27), sounded terrific as he led his big band through such Top 40 singles as â€œLetâ€™s Get Married,â€ â€œTired of Being Aloneâ€ and, of course,â€ â€œLetâ€™s Stick Together.â€
He was an energetic and assured front man, borrowing more than a few tricks from James Brownâ€™s bag, and he had fans eating out of the palm of his hand. The highlights of the set were a transcendent â€œAmazing Grace,â€ which began as almost whispered duet between Green and the crowd and gradually built to a triumphant height, and a monster work-out of â€œLove and Happiness.â€
Following an intermission, during which fans deeply enjoyed the sounds of the Bay Areaâ€™s own J.C. Smith Blues Band on the side stage, pianist/bandleader Herbie Hancock took his turn under the bright lights and proceeded to lay down some incredibly heady jazz.
It proved to be a difficult transition for the fans, some of whom were still soaked with sweat from dancing to Greenâ€™s high-energy offering. Lengthy electric bass solos and avant-garde arrangements, such as setting the usual four-beat â€œWatermelon Manâ€ to a new 17-beat (!) form, probably werenâ€™t the best match for Greenâ€™s crowd-friendly set.
In retrospect, the lineup should have probably been flipped _ with Hancock setting the table for Green _ but the jazz legend might not have gone for that, since heâ€™s currently living large on the unexpected Grammy success of his latest CD, the Joni Mitchell tribute â€œRiver: The Joni Letters.â€
Of course, the evening would have been much different if one widely spread rumor had actually turned out to be true _ that Mitchell would show up and perform with Hancock. Alas, the ever-elusive songwriter didnâ€™t make it to Sonoma.]]>http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2008/05/24/herbie-hancock-al-green-at-sonoma-jazz/feed/0Al Green